ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO
About me --
After completing Bachelor of Architecture from my home country Nepal, I found myself yearning to learn and experience more of Architecture. I moved to the United States to pursue a Master degree in Architecture and to learn and practice architecture as I have always wanted to. I am passionate, curious and self motivated. Architectural work gives me a sense of fulfillment. I always try to keep myself open to learning new things and bettering myself as required by the ever-changing world. I believe that Architecture is a gift for people, a potential solution to communal problems, an element that can bind people together and an art that people can cherish.
CONTENTS
EDUCATIONAL WORKS Transportation Hub Breathing Room Activating the Public Realm Adaptive Reuse Old Kathmandu
PROFESSIONAL WORKS Glass House Classical Newari Residence Interior Space Kitchen Renovation Student Work Resume
TRANSPORTATION HUB Preserving activities in a new expression B.Arch Thesis Project- 2017 AWARDS: Best Thesis Project, 2017, Pokhara University, Nepal Asian Paints, Kaleidoscope Thesis Award 2017-2018 Given the increasing traffic and pollution problems in Kathmandu valley, a new Mass Rapid Transit system is highly necessary in the near future. This project is for a train station situated in Ratnapark, in Kathmandu. The proposed train station will be a central transportation hub which acts an interchange for two proposed railway lines. The design of ‘Transportation Hub’ is not only aimed for transportation ease inside the city but also is responsible for the redevelopment of the heart of the city in an organized manner. The previous Ratnapark, which holds great cultural and historical significance has been preserved inside the station, not by preserving the physical aspects but by preserving the activities of the park.
The concept is the idea of ‘Buildingscape’ or ‘Urban Fabric’ whereby the building is formed by the folding of surface of the site based on proposed zoning and circulation patterns, into an undulating fabric encompassing two concourse floors and two railway tracks.
↑ Master plan ← Concept development → Axonometric plans
← Section → Physical model ↓ (Left to right) Section; Floor plan
← Case study diagram - Central station, Hong Kong → Case study diagram - Rajiv chowk station, New Delhi, India
BREATHING ROOM Design of a Fire Station Studio Project- 2020
With a motive of creating a project that provides respite from the urban desert context, the fire station seeks to create peaceful, quiet, cool spaces. The introverted building does not attempt to draw attention. Spaces and apertures for light are carved from the mass of the building. The windows are shaded from direct sunlight while allowing reflected and diffused light to enter. Dramatic spaces are revealed as you walk below grade through the canyons and inner courtyards. The East wing of the fire station, which is a memorial museum, opens onto Columbus Avenue encouraging pedestrians to meander and ramp down into the public courtyard. The Minimalist structure symbolizes peace and honor to the fire fighters who lost their lives during rescue. The overall motive of the fire station is to give respect and a sense of pride, along with a peaceful environment to the fire fighters who rigorously risk their lives to protect others.
← Rendered perspective → Rendered perspective ↓ Section perspective
ACTIVATING THE PUBLIC REALM Provisional Urbanism for a Permanent Future M.Arch Thesis Project- 2021
A city is defined by people and their various activities. There is often a lack of interaction in road centric developments and results in dull urban spaces. Phoenix is an example of a road centric development that struggles to achieve a vibrant public realm. The project is focused on activating the public realm with provisional urbanism in order to create a permanent future that prioritizes people over cars. It intends to provide interactive spaces for the communities of the future by prompting movement and activity to stimulate retail in street level. The project identifies 1st street of downtown Phoenix from Washington street in the South to Roosevelt street in the North to be developed as a retail corridor that will accommodate different levels of street retail. It is also the corridor that accommodates various events year round.
↑ Investigation Maps: (left to right) Urban Context; Tracing Pedestrian Movement; Tracing food and drink retail; Tracing shopping retail; Tracing arts and culture hubs; Relationship between pedestrian movement and retail ← Investigation Maps: (left to right) Land Use Zoning; Light Rail and Parking Garages → Investigation Maps: (left to right) Identifying
anchors; Identifying corridor; Categorization of movements in streets
→ Timeline: Short term vision
← Street Plan: (left to right) Present context; During occasional event ↓ Isometric diagram illustrating time of an event
↑ Section diagram illustrating 1st Street During an event ← Section diagram illustrating pedestrianized 1st Street of the future
↑ Timeline: Long term vision → Isometric Diagram illustrating 1st street and the impact of provisional urbanism
← Street plan illustrating future pedestrianized street
ADAPTIVE REUSE
Renovation, Connectivity and Walkability AWARD: Design Excellence Award, Fall 2019, Arizona State University
Studio Project- 2019 Phoenix having a high potential of becoming a mega city in the future, demands for higher connectivity, livelier and more vibrant environment within proximity to nature. One of the biggest issue for Phoenix is lack of character and identity of place. With an objective of defining the character of Phoenix through its people , the design project coordinates with the connected oasis: a green pedestrian-intensive network of densely shaded streets and pocket parks that linked the major downtown destinations with surrounding neighborhood and retail zones. In this design, the connected oasis has been proposed to go through the interior of the building as well as wrap on the exterior of the building in order to increase pedestrian connectivity and give users a distinct experience of walking through different kinds of spaces . It creates a distinct image of the city and the oasis . While narrow streets encourages human interaction, the design also allows interior space to be close to open public spaces
← Floor plan → Master plan ↓ Section
OLD KATHMANDU Design of Public Library Studio Project- 2015 Situated in Bhaktapur Durbar square (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the design of public library seeks to connect the Interior with the external ‘old town’ environment. ‘Access to differently able’ is the key factor that inspires the design of large ramps connecting the floors. The ramps moving below and above grade throughout the building represents the narrow, interactive streets of Kathmandu. The central atrium, providing enough daylighting inside the library also seeks to create an impression of traditional Newari houses of Kathmandu with courtyards
↑ Physical model ← Rendered perspective → Rendered perspective
← Rendered Exterior Image → Rendered Exterior Image, Plan and Section
GLASS HOUSE Single-family Residence Project- 2018 Following ‘Minimalism’, the Glass house seeks to achieve aesthetics only with the use of glass and white concrete faces. The main entrance leading to the landing level tends to connect the semi underground floor to the first floor of the building equally prioritizing the two spaces
CLASSICAL NEWARI RESIDENCE Single-family Residence Project- 2018 The residence, located in Kathmandu is a juxtaposition of classical Newari style and modern building materials such as concrete and aluminum. The open porch in the ground floor tends to give an impression of ‘Patis’ of traditional Newari towns. Along with brick exposed facade and tudals (Elements of classical Newari style building), the building, with a timeless look, sets itself apart from other contemporary buildings commonly seen in Kathmandu.
INTERIOR SPACE Re-use - Re-purpose - Renovate Project- 2018 The design of Living + Bedroom is a renovation project situated at Kirtipur, Kathmandu. The design is a fusion of contemporary interior style with midcentury style furniture. The project deals with Re-Use and Re-purpose of old furnitures. Along with fulfilling the client’s demand for bright and lively space the interior also allows space for antique decorations
KITCHEN RENOVATION Single Family Residence Project- 2020 The Kitchen renovation is an interior renovation of a single family residence in Washington DC. Using existing hard wood floor and cabinets, the kitchen transforms its expression by subtracting rather than adding to existing elements.
STUDENT WORKS Design Fundamentals 1 Studio- 2020 In the fall 2020 semester, I had the privilege to teach and assist a group of talented architecture students. These are some of the student’s work for Design Fundamentals 1 (ALA 121) at the Herberger Institute for design and the arts, Arizona State University.
RESUME Education
Master of Architecture (M. Arch) Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts Arizona State University
2019 - 2021
Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch) Nepal Engineering College Pokhara University, Nepal
2012 - 2017
Work Experience
Architectural Intern Arrington Watkins Architects LLC Phoenix, Arizona
Feb 2021 to April 2021
Teaching Assistant Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts Arizona State University
Aug 2019 to Jan 2021
Architectural Designer/Freelancer Self Employed Kathmandu, Nepal Architect Araniko Designers and Planners Pvt. Ltd. Gongabu, Kathmandu, Nepal Volunteer Nepal Government’s Reconstruction Authority Pangretar, Sindhupalchowk, Nepal (Earthquake Affected Area) Architectural Intern Technical Interface Pvt. Ltd. Kshetrapati, Kathmandu, Nepal
Jul 2018 to Jul 2019
Feb-Jul 2018
Feb 2017
Aug 2016 to Dec2016
Awards
Design Excellence Award, Fall 2019 Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts Arizona State University Best Thesis Project 2017 Pokhara University, Nepal Engineering College Kaliedoscope Thesis Award 2017-18 By Asian Paints
Trainings and Participations
7 days Training on Earthquake Resilient Structures Conducted by Nepal Government’s Reconstruction Authority
2017
National Representative at Arcasia Student Jamboree Asian Congress of Architects, Hong Kong
2016
Contribution on ERA (Ecologically Responsive Architecture) Guide On going project of a handbook Conducted by SCGSA (SONA’s Committee on Green and Sustainable Architecture)
2016
Software Skills
Autodesk Revit, Autodesk CAD, Autodesk 3ds Max, Sketch Up, Lumion, Rhino Adobe Creative Suite Microsoft Office Suite
Other Skills and Knowledge
Photography (Find Photography Portfolio at https://issuu.com/sojha3/docs/012 ) Video Editing (Find video editing Sample at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z-r6ahTy5c&t=13s ) Basics of Advertising and Digital Marketing
Contact Information sojha3@asu.edu shristiojha2@gmail.com +1 480 246 7805